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An interactive map featuring more than 100 quirky attractions around the world. Check out offbeat museums, roadside attractions, and fun places!
- Indianapolis
Read on to learn about kissing the bricks at the...
- Dole Plantation (Wahiawa, Hi)
One is the Pineapple Maze, which they refer to as “the...
- Giant Jesus and Mary Statues (Sioux City, IA
There are giant Jesus and Mary statues all over the world,...
- Yukon Kissing Buildings (Dawson City, Yukon)
The Kissing Buildings Location: Dawson City, Yukon, Canada...
- Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Art Museum (San Antonio, Tx)
Barney Smith’s Toilet Seat Museum. New location: The Colony,...
- Zzyzx Road (Baker, Ca)
Zzyzx Road Location: Near Baker, California When to visit:...
- Indianapolis
- United State Roadside Attractions
- Illinois Roadside Attractions
- Indiana Roadside Attractions
- Iowa Roadside Attractions
- Kansas Roadside Attractions
- Michigan Roadside Attractions
For your convenience, this list is organized by regions of Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and West. Use the links within this table of contents if you would like to jump ahead to a specific region or state. Enjoy!
Superman Square
Did you know that the hometown of Superman is located in southern Illinois? If you make the drive into the small town of Metropolis, be sure to stop in the center of town at Superman Square. You are going to want a picture with the giant 15-foot Superman statue there.
Leaning Tower of Niles
What a surprise to discover this leaning tower in Chicago! This half-sized replica of the infamous Leaning Tower of Pisa can be found at 6300 Touhy Avenue in Niles, Illinois.
World’s Largest Catsup Bottle
Roadside attraction submitted by Val at Silly America “The World’s Largest Catsup Bottlestands at 170 feet tall in Collinsville, Illinois. Unfortunately, this roadside attraction isn’t actually filled with ketchup. Instead, the giant condiment once served as an operation water tower for Brooks Tomato Products Company.”
World’s Largest Ball of Paint
Roadside Attraction submitted by Amy at Visit Indiana “Along a gravel road in Alexandria, Indiana, I became a part of history. I painted a layer of theWorld’s Largest Ball of Paint.In a shelter built exclusively for the ball the paint, I added a layer to the growing mass, which hung by a large chain from the ceiling. The enormous ball actually started as a baseball that Mike Carmichael and his son painted. And now, almost 40 years later, people from all over the world head to this rural part...
New Harmony Labyrinths
The small utopian town of New Harmonyis home to two distinctly different labyrinths. Both of these quiet, beautiful areas meant to encourage mindful contemplation are located roadside and open for public use. The Harmonist Labyrinth is made of hedges and is located at 1239 Main Street. The New Harmony Cathedral Labyrinth is made of granite and can be found at 309 North Street.
Heritage Trail Quilt Gardens
A lovely roadside attraction for the spring and summer months is a tour ofIndiana’s Quilt Gardens. The Indiana Heritage Trail weaves through several communities throughout northern Indiana including Elkhart, Goshen, Nappanee, Wakarusa, Middlebury and Bristol. Along with the 15+ gorgeous quilt gardens, the Heritage Trail also features over 20 hand-painted large wall murals. Return to Table of Contents
Albert the World’s Largest Bull
Roadside Attraction submitted by Megan at Olio in Iowa “Albert the Bull is not only Iowa’s hugest Hereford, but he’s also sure to steal your heart. Located in Audubon, Iowa, Albert weighs in at 45 tons and towers 30 feet above the rolling cornfields. This beautiful bull was built in 1963, and even had his own cameo in a 2018 Super Bowl commercial.” READ MORE: Albert the Bull – Olio in Iowa
Pappajohn Sculpture Park
The Pappajohn Sculpture Park is a full city block of impressive sculptures in the heart of Des Moines. Located at 1330 Grand Avenue, this free attraction is open to the general public from sunrise until sunset. It features more than 30 large sculptures by world famous artists such as Keith Haring, Ai Weiwei, and more. READ MORE: Your Family Will Love Pappajohn Sculpture Park!
Giant Wind Turbine Blade
Travelers along Westbound I-80 can examine a wind turbine close up close when they stop at the rest area between Adair and Casey (near mile marker 80) in Iowa. This rest area offers educational displays about alternative and renewable energy sources including a wind turbine blade on display outside of the building. It’s hard to wrap your mind around just how big these blades are until you are standing next to one. The blade is 148 feet tall. That’s almost the height of a 15-story building!!
Cars on the Route
Cars on the Route in Galena, Kansas has an interesting connection with the animated Cars movie. This renovated Kan-O-Tex service station is home to Tow Tater, a 1951 International Boom truck that inspired the beloved Tow Mater character in the movie. Cars on the Route has restored vehicles displayed that resemble other favorite characters from the Cars movie as well. The entire family will enjoy stopping here for a bit. RELATED ARTICLE: Cars the Movie and Route 66 Return to Table of Contents
Eiffel Tower
Did you know there is a small city named Paris in Michigan? It even has its own replica of the Eiffel Tower! You can find the 20-foot Eiffel Tower replica at Paris Park (22090 Northland Drive). The tower was built in the 1980s by high school students, and the material used was leftover steel from the bed frames of an old CCC bunkhouse. The grounds were used as a state fish hatchery from 1881 until 1964. Bring some quarters with you so you can feed the trout still on site. Also, look around fo...
Giant Adirondack Chair
Few things better represent life by the great lakes in the summertime better than an Adirondack chair, and in Michigan’s upper peninsula city of Munising, you can find a giant one of these chairs in front of the AmericInn Lodge and Suites. Stop by, have a seat, and snap a picture!
Santa’s Workshop
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is home to a host of fun family-friendly stops including a gift shop called Santa’s Workshopin a merry little town named Christmas. While you are there, pick up some souvenirs and holiday décor. Then, pose for a few pictures with the roadside attractions found on the grounds – the World’s Largest Santa, the World’s Largest Concrete Snowman, and the Old Lady Who Lives in a Shoe.
Aug 5, 2024 · While considered originally American, the trend of building the world’s largest roadside attractions made its way to other countries like Australia and New Zealand in the 1960s. However, they refer to them with the slightly humbler term “big things.” Australia, for example, is home to the Big Pineapple, the Big Lobster, and the Big Prawn.
- Alabama // Self-Flushing Latrine. Location: Dauphin Island, Alabama. Soldiers stationed at Alabama's Fort Gaines during the Civil War enjoyed the rare luxury of dropping their waste into a special self-flushing latrine: Seated next to a few of their closest comrades, they would do their business, then let the tide from the Gulf of Mexico sweep everything away (which happened twice a day: once when the tide came in, and again when it went out).
- Alaska // Adak National Forest. Location: Ada Island, Alaska. At one point this "National Forest" boasted one whole tree. During WWII, U.S. Army General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr.
- Arizona // Santa's Land. Location: Santa Claus, Arizona. It's a ghost town. It's a winter wonderland. It's in the Mojave Desert. In 1937, real estate pro Nina Talbot founded this incongruously-themed town in an attempt attract land buyers, hoping that the chance to hang out with Santa Claus every day of the year would do the trick.
- Arkansas // Arkansas State Treasurer's Office. Location: Little Rock, Arkansas. What could be wackier than visiting a state treasurer's office? Sure, Arkansas has the not-at-all-creepy Burger Baths for Health sign, but they let you hold $500,000 in your hands at the Capitol Building.
A massive clementine marks the center of town in the citrus city of Berkane. Learn more about “Roadside Attractions” on Atlas Obscura.
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Whether in plain sight or places only the locals know about, these are some of the nation's greatest roadside attractions you'll need to see to believe.